Without comment, campaign officials for President Obama this morning released to the Des Moines Register a transcript of an interview he had Tuesday with Laura Hollingsworth, president and publisher of the Register, and Rick Green, editor/vice-president of news. Initially, the White House had asked that the conversation be considered off-the-record and its details not shared with readers. Its release comes on the heels of a Tuesday evening DesMoinesRegister.com blog post by Green questioning why an endorsement interview with the Register would be off-the-record.

Interview of the President by Rick Green & Laura Hollingsworth, The Des Moines Register

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Q: Mr. President, we’re very sensitive to your time. I know you’ve got a busy schedule. But we just had just one last question here. As we close in on the final hours of this campaign -- it’s been a long one. It’s been exhausting. It’s been very, very expensive, as I know you know. Why should the Des Moines Register offer its endorsement to you, sir?

THE PRESIDENT: Well, you guys have seen me up close. I wouldn’t be on the national stage had it not been for the people of Iowa. And if you look at what I said to you this time four years ago, and the commitments I’ve made, I have kept and met those commitments, or I have worked really hard to keep them and meet them.

I said that I’d cut taxes for middle-class families -- I did. I said that we would make sure to make college more affordable -- we have. I said I would clean up the financial system and pass the toughest Wall Street reforms since the 1930s, and we have. I said that I would make sure that people don’t go broke in this country because they get sick -- we did that. I said I’d end the war in Iraq -- I have. I said we’d got after al Qaeda and bin Laden -- we have. I said we’d begin a process where we could initially blunt the momentum of the Taliban and then a process in which we’d begin transitioning out -- we’re in the process of doing that.

So across the board, I’ve done what I said. And this is in the midst of I think what everybody would agree were some pretty historic circumstances. And the criteria by which I’ve made these decisions has always been what’s good for America’s families, how do we build our middle class, how do we grow the economy in a way that broad-based and sustainable.

The notion that somehow we’ve been bad for business is obviously contradicted by the evidence. Corporate profits have been at record levels up until maybe last quarter. The stock market basically has recovered all its losses that it experienced from the financial sector. The auto industry has come roaring back. Our exports have doubled.

For the people of Iowa that are so dependent on the agricultural sector -- the agricultural sector has never done better than it has under my administration. Even in the midst of this year’s drought it’s still doing well.

When it comes to clean energy that I talked about so much back in 2007-2008, we’ve doubled our production of clean energy. And we’re starting to see the costs of that energy come down, the number of jobs it generates go up.

I got to tell you, I feel very strongly that I have a record that justifies a second term. But I guess, more importantly, what you also know is that I’m somebody who keeps my word, that I don’t read the polls, that I do what I think is right for the American people, even when it is profoundly unpopular politically. And I think that’s worth something. I think that’s the kind of leadership the people of Iowa want.

10. One never knows how the press will retell a story.

I know that I have talked to reporters and when I read the article was not sure that the reporter was at the same meeting that i had been. At this late date President Obama can't risk a reporter going off message with false information. As the article said, historically, these things have been done off the record. Nothing new here. Why risk it?

24. it was an endorsement interview, and he had no way of knowing what it entailed.

you don't customarily release those... so it was probably off the record in advance, because he actually SAYS in the interview, "because this is off the record" Then the paper changed their agreement, and put them in a position to either allow it to be released, or let the republicans wonder and speculate. Worked out well. Even off the record the President sounds exactly right.

9. Now THAT'S clever!

They made the interview off the record.
Then they waited untl the paper informed the public they had a very interesting interview they couldn't share which makes everyone terribly curious as to what he said.

Then release the interview and EVERYONE will read it, not just the regular political junkies.

They may even get national exposure from this.
That's smart politicking.

11. I don't understand why the Obama campaign is not making

noise about what Mitch McConnell said about denying president Obama a second term their top priority. They can at least make his words an internet ad. I feel those words are much more effective in way that it exposes their hypocrisy.

12. I agree completely!

When someone like Mitch McConnell makes a statement like that, it should be covered by the media. Obviously, the GOP has made good on McConnell's statement, too. At the cost of the American people and the economy. Why would anyone vote for any Republican who allowed people to suffer for political gain?

I also recall John Boehner stating that the message from the people after the 2010 election was received loud and clear: we want JOBS. How many jobs bills has the GOP leadership in the House submitted? Zero. If the GOP got the message loud and clear in 2010, they surely haven't paid any attention to it. Therefore, they aren't doing their jobs and shouldn't be re-elected to their positions.

23. .

14. I don't get it

They should blast this transcript out all over the place. If I were them I would purchase ad space in EVERY major swing state newspaper and post this transcript. This is the best case I have seen him make for re-election. I'm stunned that h hasn't made the case like this in public.

26. Which is a big fat clue that they're going to endorse Romney

28. Why would you think that the Register is endorsing Romney?

Maybe I'm missing something?

I imagine that if any newspaper calls a candidate for the express purpose of interviewing them to determine endorsements--that the interview would be "off the record". The journalists aren't calling for specific comments on a story. They're calling to have a long, lengthy, detailed interview during a Presidential campaign.

I imagine the President's handlers would tell them that the interview is "off the record".

I've worked in PR for nearly two decades. I certainly don't know everything about each particular situation, but this seems standard to me.

Maybe I am missing something, but I am intrigued by your comments.

I hope the Register does not endorse Romney. I live in Des Moines, and they are a very liberal newspaper. A Romney endorsement would be disappointing to say the least, especially with Iowa being a swing state.

30. My initial impression was that it was a brilliant move as well...

Releasing an "off the record" conversation gives the reader the feeling that they are reading behind-the-scenes conversations that shed light on what the interviewee is truly like.

"Off the record" implies that the person being interviewed had their guard down. This is their authentic, raw self when they're not scripted.

This indirectly gives more credibility to the statements. In effect, releasing statements made off the record makes the expressed statements seem more believable.

This is being done in Iowa--a swing state. The race is close here.

Seems to me, this is a good way for the Obama campaign to add some credibility to a very critical message---that Obama has kept many promises and has accomplished many things. Also, that he has tried his best and has secured many successes (Wall Street reform, healthcare reform, etc.).

Great move, from a PR standpoint.

As for who the Register is endorsing--that's a whole separate issue. Someone else said they thought this mean that Romney was being endorsed. I think it looks as if the Register is playing ball with Obama--helping him to disseminate his message. If they are endorsing Romney--maybe this is the consolation prize? Just guessing. I expect the Register to endorse Obama, but we'll see, I guess.

31. This is interesting stuff...

I just read the entire post and the transcript.

Apparently, a Des Moines Register blogger questioned why the Obama Administration requested that the interview be "off the record."

I guess that's a fair question. Although, I always thought that these types of interviews would be "off the record" unless of course the paper did choose to endorse. Then, the details are released. If you are not endorsed, your words could be used against you, I suppose.

So, this is curious.

And I'm also wondering. Did Romney give an interview with the Register? Was Romney's interview also "off the record"? Those are questions, I'd love to know.

Others are speculating about whether or not these events hint at the Register's endorsement decisions.

On one hand--releasing this only helps the President. This is basically the campaign's mission statement and closing arguments. The campaign would want EVERY Iowan to read this and give it consideration. Labeling it "off the record" and releasing it stokes curiosity and draws readers in. Maybe the Obama campaign just wanted to do this as an extra push in Iowa? Maybe they're releasing the "off the record" status--because Obama is being endorsed by the Register.

On the other hand--One could assume that Obama wanted his remarks to the Register published--because Romney may be getting endorsed. Obama wants his side out there to Iowans as well.

No doubt, these newspapers call each of the campaigns to inform them of their endorsement decisions--before they are made public. That gives the campaigns time to react and create their own messaging surrounding these events.

It's kind of a mystery isn't it??? We'll find out soon enough. I am in Iowa--in Des Moines actually--and I will be shocked if the Register, a left-leaning paper, endorses Romney. They are owned by Gannett though. I'll be shocked and saddened if they endorse Romney.

32. Off the record, Obama still reasonable. Off the record, Romney disses the 47%.

33. Love this!

I said that I’d cut taxes for middle-class families -- I did.
I said that we would make sure to make college more affordable -- we have.
I said I would clean up the financial system and pass the toughest Wall Street reforms since the 1930s, and we have.
I said that I would make sure that people don’t go broke in this country because they get sick -- we did that.
I said I’d end the war in Iraq -- I have.
I said we’d got after al Qaeda and bin Laden -- we have.
I said we’d begin a process where we could initially blunt the momentum of the Taliban and then a process in which we’d begin transitioning out -- we’re in the process of doing that.

So across the board, I’ve done what I said. And this is in the midst of I think what everybody would agree were some pretty historic circumstances.